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Tigers ink four more international prospects

Tigers ink four more international prospects

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By Jason Beck
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MLB.com |

TORONTO -- The Tigers announced four more international signings on Thursday. Venezuelan right-handers Luis Ledezma and Wildenson Yanez both agreed to terms, along with Dominican shortstop Isrrael De La Cruz and Venezuelan catcher Jheyser Azuaje.

Ledezma is a lean righty with room to grow into his frame. He throws a heavy fastball with the potential for more power, and already good deception. Add in a good curveball and a changeup that he has worked to improve, and Ledezma brings a well-rounded package already at his age.

The Tigers see a strong foundation and a quick delivery in Yanez, whose fastball carries late movement to go with a changeup that complements it well and adds deception. He also has a sharp curveball. The secondary pitches in particular caught the Tigers' interest.

De La Cruz is a classic Dominican shortstop, wiry with good fielding skills. The Tigers also like his swing, which they see potentially producing gap power as he fills out and gets stronger.

Azuaje, the second Venezuelan catcher the Tigers signed this week, is a compact backstop who can hit for contact to all fields. His defense is expected to improve as he gets into the system and gets instruction.

As with the Tigers' other international signings, the deals are contingent on Major League Baseball's investigation to verify their identities and ages.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.